Rumors began to circulate in Hudson over the past weekend that Columbia County had its first three diagnosed cases of coronavirus. Reached by email the morning of March 9, Columbia Memorial Health spokesperson William Van Slyke said the stories are untrue. "While we continue to see patients with the flu and other typical illnesses, we’ve had no patients test positive for COVID-19," Van Slyke wrote. Jack Mabb, Public Health Director with the Columbia County Department of Health, likewise denied the rumors. Mabb said a man with a travel history to Italy was tested last week and his results were negative. He said another county resident voluntarily isolated themself after a trip to Italy. He said the person remains asymptomatic. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced March 9 that New York now has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 of any state in the country with 142. Cuomo said New York prison inmates are now making hand sanitizer. Inmates at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington County are making between 16 and 65 cents an hour for their efforts making sanitizer. Meanwhile, Skidmore College in Saratoga County has suspended all classes through March 22 because of the COVID-19 cases announced in the county. Boston canceled its St. Patrick's Day parade because of fears of transmitting the disease at the event. The NCAA basketball tournament games schedule in Albany at the Times Union Center March 19 and 21 are still scheduled as of March 9. The New York Department of Health and the New York State Education Department released a guidance March 9 on coronavirus-related school closures. Currently, several Westchester County and New York City schools are closed. Also, New York Attorney General Letitia James has sent to letter to “televangelist” Jim Bakker asking him to stop claiming that his Silver Solution product can cure coronavirus. And President Donald Trump gave a press conference on the issue March 9 and mostly focused on the historic stock market drop. New York Senator Chuck Schumer reacted with a statement: "What was glaringly missing from President Trump’s press conference was how he is actually going to combat the spread of the coronavirus and keep the American people safe. It seems President Trump is more focused on the stock market than addressing this pandemic," Schumer said. “One of the best ways to ensure economic security for the American people is for President Trump to demonstrate real leadership and take immediate actions to actually combat the coronavirus itself, such as by ensuring tests and treatment are both available and affordable to all who need it and paid sick leave for all Americans workers, among other people-focused initiatives.”